156 J'ENDACE. 



been received as facts. The fish is of extreme delicacy : a circumstance which may have 

 given rise to the first notion ; and the introduction of it must have taken place by means of 

 the spawn, the fish themselves, I am confident, could not be transported alive even a few miles. 

 As to the second opinion, they are not confined to the Castle Loch, but are found in several 

 others, some of which have no communication with that where they are thought to be peculiar. 



In general habits the Vendace nearly resemble the Gwyniad, and indeed most of the 

 allied species of the genus. They swim in large shoals ; and during warm and clear weather 

 retire to the depth of the lakes, apparently sensible of the increased temperature. They are 

 only taken with nets, a proper bait not being yet discovered ; and the fact that little excrement 

 is found in their intestines has given rise to another tradition, that they are able to subsist 

 without food. They are most successfully taken during a dull day and sharp breeze, approaching 

 near to the edges of the loch, and swimming in a direction contrary to the wind. They 

 spawn about the commencement of November, and at this time congregate in large shoals, 

 frequently rising to the surface of the water, in the manner of the Common Herring, and 

 making a similar noise by their rise and fall to and from the surface. The sound may be 

 distinctly heard, and the direction of the shoal perceived, during a calm and clear evening. 

 They are very productive. The lochs abound with Pike, of which they are a favourite food ; 

 but their quantity seems in no degree to be diminished, notwithstanding that immense numbers 

 must be destroyed. They are considered a great delicacy, resembling the Smelt a good deal 

 in flavour; and though certainly very palatable, the relish may be somewhat heightened by 

 the difficulty of always procuring a supply. During the summer fishing parties are frequent, 

 introducing some stranger friend to the Loch Maben Whitebait; and a club, consisting of 

 between twenty and thirty of the neighbouring gentry, possessing a private net, etc., meet 

 annually in July to enjoy the sport of fishing and feasting upon this luxury." Mr. Yarrell 

 tells us that in the autumn of 1840, when he was staying with Sir William Jardine, he saw 

 some Vendace caught, and partook of some at dinner. He considered "the fish quite entitled 

 to all their character for excellence." 



The principal food of the Vendace appears to be the minute Crustacea, as the Entomostraca, 

 "for feeding on which," Sir William Jardine says, "the structure of the mouth is beautifully 

 adapted." According to Dr. Knox, the females of the Vendace are more numerous as well 

 as larger than the males, often measuring more than eight inches in length, the males being 

 seldom more than seven inches. 



To judge from the figure (pi. vi.) which Sir William Jardine has given, the Vendace, 

 when fresh out of the water, must be a most beautiful fish. The specimen he has figured 

 is thus coloured: — The back is olive, a little darker towards the shoulders; dorsal fin olive 

 with pink tinge at the base; adipose fin olive, caudal lighter olive, brownish at base, and 

 much forked. Near the lateral line are some pinkish specks; below lateral line the body is 

 slightly yellowish for a short depth, then white iridescent violet reflections; gill-covers violet 

 and pink ; upper part of the pectoral fin tinged with yellow. Anal white, with violet tinge 

 at the base; gill-cover with a violet patch gradually fading away. This species is said to 

 be but little variable in colour. In the Vendace the under jaw is the longest ; mouth small ; 

 maxillary short, but broad and flat, reaching half way to the eye, and bent. Scales of 

 moderate size, easily detached ; the eye is large and prominent. 



The fin-ray formula is stated by Dr. Glinther to be 



Dorsal 1 1 . 

 Anal 13. 

 Ventral 11. 



I do not know whether the young of the genus Corcgoniis are barred like those of the 

 genera Salmo and Thytnallus. 



